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WHY VOTE? -Because you can -to make sure elected officials represent you -there are times when EVERY vote counts VOTER TURNOUT MATTERS: -ranges all over the world, but very low in the US - affected by registration difficulties -"ballot fatigue" -lack of political efficacy -lack of competition -level of education -income -age and/or race

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Why vote- how does voter turnout matter?

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the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies -Gov'ts typically maintain a nat'l defense, provide services, collect taxes, & preserve order

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Government

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Goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone must share

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public goods

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Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics. These features distinguish them from traditional interest groups.

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single issue groups

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The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United States, they include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

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linkage institutions

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...

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Distrust of the Framers

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A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a COMPETITION AMONG GROUPS, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

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Pluralist Theory

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A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. Hyperpluralism is an extreme, exaggerated, or perverted form of pluralism.

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hyperpluralist theory

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theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal nicieties of governmental organization

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elite and class theory

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1. colonists faced tax increases after the french and indian war 2. colonists lacked direct representation in parliament. 3. colonial leaders formed the continental congress to address abuses of the English crown

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french and indian war- effects of taxes

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1. listed the colonists' grievances against the british, is adopted on July 4, 1776 2. Thomas Jefferson was the primary author

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Declaration of Independence

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believed all people have a right to life, liberty, and property

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John Locke view of human nature

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1. , This document, the nation's first constitution, was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781 during the Revolution. The document was limited because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage.

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Articles of Confederation

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this conflict in Massachusetts caused many to criticize the Articles of Confederation and admit the weak central government was not working; uprising led by Daniel Shays in an effort to prevent courts from foreclosing on the farms of those who could not pay the taxes

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shay's rebellion

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A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation, attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention

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annapolis convention

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A compromise between Southern and Northern states reached during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 in which three-fifths of the population of slaves would be counted for enumeration purposes regarding both the distribution of taxes and the apportionment of the members of the United States House of Representatives.

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3/5 compromise

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A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

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checks and balances.

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a collection of 85 articles written by alexander hamilton, john jay, and james madison under the name "publius" to defend the constitution in detail.

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federalist papers

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The first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, containing a list of individual rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.

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bill of rights

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The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, (the Judiciary Act of 1789).

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marbury v. madison

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A way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people. It is a SYSTEM OF SHARED POWER BETWEEN UNITS OF GOVERNMENT.

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federalism

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central gov't power is limited -UN is a modern example

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confederation

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A way of organizing a nation so that ALL power resides in the central government. Most national governments today including those of Great Britain and Japan, are unitary governments.

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unitary government

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article IV of the Constitution states the following are supreme: - u.s. const. -laws of congress -treaties yet, nat'l gov't cannot usurp state powers (10th amendment)

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supremacy clause

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powers reserved to the States

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10th amendment

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Congress could conduct war and foreign relations, borrow/issue/appropriate money. Could not regulate trade, draft troops, or levy taxes on citizens.

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powers of the federal government

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Establish schools, conduct elections, marriage and divorce laws, establishing a local government

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powers of state government

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An 1819 Supreme Court decision that established the supremacy of the national government over state governments. In deciding this case, Chief Justice John Marshall and his colleagues held that Congress had certain implied powers in addition to the enumerated powers found in the Constitution.

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mcculloch v. maryland

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The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

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enumerated powers

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powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

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implied powers

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first words of Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution, which requires states to respect the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings" of all the other states.

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full faith and credit

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the surrender of an accused or convicted person by one state or country to another (usually under the provisions of a statute or treaty)

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extradition

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A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies. -layer cake(everyone knows the limits)

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dual federalism

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A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly. -marble cake(blurred distinction of roles ex. disaster relief)

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cooperative federalism

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federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport

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categorical grants

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Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or local gov'ts to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services

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block grants

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the branch of sociology that studies the characteristics of human populations

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demography

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a periodic and official count of a country's population

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census

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the emergence of a non-Caucasian majority, as compared with a White, generally Anglo-Saxon majority. It is predicted that by about 2060, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans together will outnumber White Americans.

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minority majority

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the process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census.

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reapportionment

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Complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values (family<--main, school, media, religion, national events-all help to socialize)

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political socialization

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items selected at random from a population and used to test hypotheses about the population

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sample

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an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people

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poll

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...

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american political knowledge

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Events purposely staged for the media that nonetheless look spontaneous. In keeping with politics as theater, media events can be staged by individuals, groups, and government officials, especially presidents.

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media event

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the use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, which at times puts reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders

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investigative journalism

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a sensational style of reporting that characterized newspapers at the turn of the century

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yellow journalism

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those who listened via radio thought nixon had won. those who tuned in via televison thought kennedy won because he looked better. Nixon had just got out of the hospital and refused to put on makeup, so he looked sweaty and clammy under the lights. kennedy however was a pretty boy and readily accepted the makeup, making him appear more presentable on camera.

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opinion polls of the Nixon-Kennedy Debate (1960)

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specific locations from which news frequently emanates, such as Congress or the White House. Most top reporters work a particular beat, thereby becoming specialists in what goes on at that location.

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beats

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...

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profits and the news

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short snippets of information aimed at dramatizing a story rather than explaining its substantive meaning

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sound bites

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an organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

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interest group

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...

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orson's law of large groups

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the problem faced by interest groups when citizens can reap the benefits of interest group action without actually joining, participating in, or contributing money to such groups.

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free rider problem

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DIRECT GROUP INVOLVEMENT IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. Groups can help fund campaigns, provide testimony, and get members to work for candidates, and some form political action committees (PAC)

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electioneering

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a group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy

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political party

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the act of officially naming a candidate

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nomination

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A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

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rational-choice theory

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voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices

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ticket splitting

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elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty

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closed primaries

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elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.

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open primaries

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elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and some Republicans if they like.

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blanket primaries

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held every 4 years

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presidential nominations

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Iowa

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first caucus held

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New Hampshire

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first primary held

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A high-tech method of raising money for a political cause or candidate. It involves sending information and requests for money to people whose names appear on lists of those who have supported similar views or candidates in the past.

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direct mail

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law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission (FEC), provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions.

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Federal election campaign act

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Federal Election Commission, issues regulations & adviosry opinions that control PAC activities

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FEC

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political contributions (not subject to contribution limits) earmarked for party-building expenses or generic party advertising

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soft money

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Political Action Committees, created by law in 1974 to allow corps, labor unions, & other interest groups to donate money to campaigns; are registered w/ & monitored by the FEC.

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PACs

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process permitted in some states wherebyvoters may put proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote, given a sufficient number of signatures

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initiative

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A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment.

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referendum

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passed in 1993, this act went into effect for the 1996 election. It requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for their driver's license.

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motor voter act

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-Education: The more educated you are, the more likely to vote -age: older more likely to vote -race: caucasians are more likely to vote. other ethnicities are higher w/ comparable education. -gender: women are more likely to vote -marital status: married ar more likely to vote -Union membership: more likely to vote

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who votes?

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-people still generally vote for a party the agree w/ -with the rise of candidate-centered politics, parties hold on voters declined in the 1960s & 1970s -floating voters: many more voters make an individual voting decision and are up for grabs each election.

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party identification

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group of persons chosen in each state and the district of columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the president and vice president

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electoral college

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A theory of voting in which voters essentially ask this simple question: "What have you done for me lately?"

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retrospective voting

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benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

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franking privilege

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535 members house- 435 senate-100

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# of members in congress

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House: -25 years old -U.S. citizen for 7 yrs -inhabitant of state Senate: -30 years old -U.S. citizen for 9 years -inhabitant of state

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requirements to become a member of congress

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religion: protestant race: white and other profession: law, business, public service/politics

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Majority of members of congress

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the official who holds an office

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incumbent

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incumbents: -advertising: be visible to constituents; frequent trips home, newsletter, and technology -credit claiming:service to constituents through casework or pork barrel -position taking -weak opponents:inexperienced in politics, unorganized, & underfunded -campaign spending: PACs give most of their money to incumbents Challengers: -one tarnished by scandal or corruption becomes vulnerable to challenger -redistricting may weaken the incumbency advantage -major political tidal wave may defeat incumbents

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challenger v. incumbents in office

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Assistance given to constituents by congressional members, answering questions/doing favors

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casework

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the mighty list of federal projects, grants, and contracts available to cities, businesses, colleges, and institutions available in a congressional district or state

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pork barrel

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composed of two legislative bodies

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bicameral

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composed of one legislative body

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unicameral

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1. bill is introduced by a member of house/senate and assigned to a committee, which ususally refers it to a subcommittee 2. subcommittee performs studies, holds hearings, and makes revisions. goes to full committee if approved 3. committee may amend or rewrite billl before deicding whether to send it to the house/senate floor to kill it. reported to the full hous/senate and placed on calender if approved. 4. HOUSE:rules committee- issues a rule of governing debate on the floor and sends bill to the full house SENATE: leadership- leaders of both parties schedule senate debate on bill 5. full house/senate- bill is debated by full house/senate, amendments are offered, and a vote is taken. if a bill passes in a diff. version from that passed in the senate/house, it is sent to conference committee. 6. conference committee is composed of members of congress. meet to iron out differences betweens the bills. compromise bill is returned to both the house and senate for vote 7. full house/senate votes on confwreence committee version. if passes, sent to president. 8. president signs or vetoes bill. congress may override a veto by a 2/3 vote of both house and senate 9. becomes a law

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how a bill becomes a law

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2 Steps. 1.) Investigation and articles of impeachment with majority 218 members. 2.)Trial in Senate, must find guilty of High Crimes and Misdemeanors. need SuperMajority 67/100. Need bi-partisan support. Chief Justice of Supreme Ct. oversees trial.

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impeachment process

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An institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House.

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house rules committee

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a tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches

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filibuster

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a rule for limiting or ending debate in a deliberative body

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cloture

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be the president of the senate and unable to vote unless equal

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vice president responsibility

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1. standing: subject-matter committees that handle bills in diff. policy areas 2. joint: a few subject-matter areas (ex. taxes & economy) membership drawn from congress 3. conference: resolve differences in house and senate bills 4. select: created fot a specific purpose, such as the watergate investigation

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four committees

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a group of members of congress sharing some interest or characteristic -pressure for committee meetings and hearings & for votes on bills -can be more effective than lobbyists

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caucus

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use their best judgement to make policy in the interests of the people 2. instructed delegates mirror the preferences of their constituents

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trustee view of representation

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members of congress who adopt both trustee and instructed delegate roles as they strive to be both reps. and policy makers

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politicos

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-u.s. wants a prez who is powerful and who can do good -u.s. doesn't like a concentration of power because they are individuals and skeptical of authority

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presidents and power

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Passed in 1951, the amendment that limits presidents to two terms of office.

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22nd amendment

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a committee in the executive branch of government that advises the president on foreign and military and national security

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national security council

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Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for BUDGETARY requests and MANAGEMENT improvements for government agencies.

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office of management and budget

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a bill fails to become law because the president did not sign it within ten days before Congress adjourns

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pocket veto

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...

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role of president in legislative process

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A law passed in 1973 in reaction to American fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia that requires presidents to consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless Congress declares war or grants an extension. Presidents view the resolution as unconstitutional.

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war powers resolution

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-negotiates treaties w/ other countries -must be 2/3 vote in senate -use executive agreements to take care of routine matters w/ other countries -may negotiate for peace between other countries -lead u.s. allies in defense and economic issues

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role of chief diplomat

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Must be born in the US, age 35 or older, must have lived in the US for at least 14 years

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requirements to become president

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one of the president's top assistants who is in charge of media relations

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press secretary

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(a fiscal year of coming short) - an excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues

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deficit

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Amendment to the United States Constitution (1913) gave Congress the power to tax income.

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16th amendment

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a policy document allocating burdens (taxes) and benefits (expenditures)

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budget

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has been expanded since 1935 to include disability benefits and medicare -u.s. citizens pay for it via income taxes

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social security

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a federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older

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medicare

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a federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them

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medicaid

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exceptions or oversights in the tax law that allow some people and businesses to avoid paying taxes

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tax loopholes

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lower taxes-- can be a loss of income

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tax reductions

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rewriting the taxes to change the rates and who pays them

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tax reform

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a certificate issued by a government or private company which promises to pay back with interest the money borrowed from the buyer of the certificate: The city issued bonds to raise money for putting in new sewers.

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bonds

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a personal tax levied on annual income

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income tax

AP Gov’t Midterm Study Guide

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